People from Pampa, Borger and Amarillo on Triumph

Eight Pampa residents are among at least 13 Texas Panhandle passengers on the disabled Carnival ship Triumph, according to one's family member and a friend of some of the others.

Karin Sutherland said her son, Noah Sutherland, 38, his wife Amy and six of their friends are passengers.

Corey Coronis, a friend of several of the Pampa residents, also said eight passengers from the town are aboard Triumph, which is being towed to the Alabama shore from the Gulf of Mexico.

The eight Pampa residents join the daughter of Lee Baker, a local television sports anchor, two other passengers from Amarillo and two from Borger as the known Texas Panhandle passengers on the ship.

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At least four Texas Panhandle residents are aboard the disabled Carnival Cruise Lines ship Triumph stranded in the Gulf of Mexico since Sunday after an engine room fire.

The Associated Press reported the ship was about 150 miles off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula when the fire started. It is being towed by two tugboats to a harbor in Mobile, Ala., where it is expected to dock today.

Kirk Hill, owner of Hill's Sport Shop, said Wednesday his daughter, Kalin Hill, 30, is on the Triumph, and he has not spoken with her since she sent him a text message Monday.

He said she told him the ship was without power, and if there are working toilets, none of the passengers knew where they are located.

He also said she claimed passengers are staying on the top deck to avoid the overpowering smells and lack of ventilation below deck.

There is no way to communicate with passengers unless another ship pulls alongside them and they can "pirate" a signal from it, he said.

Hill also said passengers are eating bread with vegetables.

"They had bread with lettuce or bread with coleslaw or cheese," he said.

Like any father, Hill said he just wants to hear from his daughter. "I just reached the point where I'd like to hear her voice," he said.

He said Carnival provided passengers' families with a recorded message containing a number to call for information.

Kalin is on the ship with a friend and fellow Amarilloan, Ryan Tipton.

Jenneane Embers is the manager of the McDonald's restaurant in Borger. Restaurant owner Phil Benda said she, another employee of the Borger eatery and about 283 other McDonald's employees from across the nation are on the ship because they won a Coca-Cola incentive award that included the cruise.

He did not have any information about them other than the fact that they were all right. He said the employees are two of his best.

Joyce Oliva, a Carnival Cruise Lines spokeswoman, gave a conflicting report of the situation on board. "The ship has maintained emergency generator power since the fire occurred, and the technical team on board has been successful in gradually restoring auxiliary power to operate some basic hotel functions," she said. "Public and cabin toilets are operational in certain sections of the ship and some power in the Lido dining area is providing for hot coffee and limited hot food service."

Oliva said three other Carnival ships have met the Triumph to "provide additional supplies and meals."

She said guests are able to return to their rooms day or night, but some have chosen to stay on the deck. She said the crew provided pillows and blankets to passengers who decided to remain outside.

"The ship's crew has been conducting some activities for the guests such as trivia, card games, children's games, acoustic music," she said. "We were able to get some power to the aft lounge, so we have movies, comedy shows, etc."

She said there is running water on board.

Wire reports claimed passengers were given plastic bags to "do their business" in.

Oliva would not comment on that.

She said guests on the voyage will receive a full refund of the cruise, along with their transportation expenses.

"In addition, they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges," she said.